TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL PATHOGEN TRANSFER AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF HARMONIZED STANDARDS ON AQUACULTURE HEALTH MANAGEMENT (FWG/03/2000) REPORT OF THE JOINT APEC/FAO/NACA/SEMARNAP WORKSHOP Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. 24-28 July, 2000 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC Fisheries Working Group April 2001 Report prepared by: Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) Suraswadi Building Department of Fisheries Kasetsart University Campus Ladyao, Jatujak Bangkok 10900 Thailand Tel: (662) 561 1728 (to 29) Fax: (662) 561 1727 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.enaca.org For: Copyright © 2001 APEC Secretariat APEC Secretariat 438 Alexandra Road #14-01/04 Alexandra Point Singapore 119958 Tel: (65) 276 1880 Fax: (65) 276 1775 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.apecsec.org.sg Reference: APEC/FAO/NACA/SEMARNAP. 2001. Trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogen transfer Published by: and the development of harmonized standards on aquaculture health management. Report of the joint APEC/FAO/NACA/SEMARNAP Workshop, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, 24-28 July 2000. Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand. www.erawanet.com APEC Publication number: 201-FS-01.1 ISBN 974-7313-27-8 Table of Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..........................................................................................................................5 2 BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT AND WORKSHOP.....................................................................6 3 SUMMARY WORKSHOP REPORT.........................................................................................................8 3.1 WORKSHOP BACKGROUND..........................................................................................................................8 3.2 OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................................................8 3.3 METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................................8 3.4 SESSION I: OPENING CEREMONY.................................................................................................................9 3.5 SESSION II - OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................10 3.6 SESSION III – PRESENTATIONS BY APEC ECONOMIES AND SELECTED FAOMEMBER COUNTRIES IN THE AMERICAS AND ASIA-PACIFIC REGION..............................................................................................................11 3.7 SESSION IV – POTENTIAL NATIONAL,REGIONAL,AND INTER-REGIONAL INTERVENTIONS,STRATEGIES AND COOPERATION....................................................................................................................................................12 3.8 SESSION V – WORKING GROUP DISCUSSIONS............................................................................................13 3.9 SESSION VI – PRESENTATION OF WORKING GROUP FINDINGS...................................................................14 3.10 SESSION VII – PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF THE WORKSHOP REPORT IN PLENARY......................14 4 THE PUERTO VALLARTA PLAN OF ACTION..................................................................................15 4.1 PREAMBLE................................................................................................................................................15 4.2 DISEASE DIAGNOSTICS,PATHOGEN SCREENING AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS........16 4.3 POLICIES,LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS RELEVANT TO MOVEMENT OF AQUATIC ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PATHOGENS...................................................................................................................................20 4.4 STATE-ANDPRIVATE-SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN REDUCING THE RISK OF TRANS-BOUNDARY MOVEMENT OF AQUATIC ANIMAL PATHOGENS...........................................................................................................................22 4.5 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUERTO VALLARTA PLAN OF ACTION......27 5 CLOSING CEREMONY...........................................................................................................................29 6 TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS............................................................................................................30 6.1 OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THE EXPERT CONSULTATION............................................30 6.2 AN OVERVIEW OF FAO/NACA ACTIVITIES AND REGIONAL,INTER-REGIONAL,AND INTERNATIONAL CO- OPERATION IN TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL............................................................31 6.3 TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL MOVEMENT: OIE...........................................................................34 6.4 TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL MOVEMENT: RESPONSIBLE USE OF INTRODUCED SPECIES: FAO AND THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)......................................................................................36 6.5 TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL MOVEMENT:COMPLIANCE TO INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS: WTO.........................................................................................................................................42 6.6 AN OVERVIEW OF SHRIMP VIRAL DISEASES...............................................................................................60 6.7 REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR STANDARDIZATION/HARMONIZATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES FOR AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASES IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL..........................................................................................................................61 6.8 TRANS-BOUNDARY MOVEMENT OF AQUATIC ANIMALS:APPLYING RISK ASSESSMENT FOR REDUCING TRANSFER OF PATHOGENS..................................................................................................................................63 6.9 ZONING FOR AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL....................................................................................64 6.10 REGIONAL AND INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL.................66 7 ECONOMY/COUNTRY PAPERS...........................................................................................................68 7.1 MEXICO.....................................................................................................................................................69 7.2 PERU.........................................................................................................................................................86 7.3 THAILAND.................................................................................................................................................88 7.4 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA............................................................................................................94 7.5 BELIZE......................................................................................................................................................96 7.6 COLOMBIA................................................................................................................................................98 7.7 COSTA RICA............................................................................................................................................100 7.8 CUBA.......................................................................................................................................................102 7.9 ECUADOR................................................................................................................................................108 7.9 ELSALVADOR.........................................................................................................................................110 7.10 GUATEMALA.......................................................................................................................................113 Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 3 7.11 HONDURAS.........................................................................................................................................115 7.12 PANAMA.............................................................................................................................................119 7.12 VENEZUELA........................................................................................................................................122 7.13 ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL SUMMARY...................................................................................................129 8 CONSULTANT REPORT: A REVIEW OF TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL PATHOGEN INTRODUCTIONS AND TRANSFERS.........................................................................................................132 8.1 ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................................132 8.2 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................132 8.3 TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASES (TAADS) – THE PROBLEM OF PATHOGEN MOVEMENT WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FINFISH,SHELLFISH AND MOLLUSC........................................................134 8.4 MAJOR TRANS-BOUNDARY DISEASE PROBLEMS IN FINFISH,SHELLFISH AND MOLLUSC...........................135 8.5 SOME EXAMPLES OF THE IMPACTS OF TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASES...........................135 8.6 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TRANS-BOUNDARY DISEASES.........................................................144 8.7 STATE SECTOR RESPONSES TO TRANS-BOUNDARY AQUATIC ANIMAL DISEASES:LEGISLATIVE,POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES.............................................................................................................................151 8.8 PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONSES TO EXOTIC DISEASE OF PENAEID SHRIMP...................................................156 8.9 RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................................168 8.10 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................................169 9 MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CEBU WORKSHOP....................176 10 ANNEXES.................................................................................................................................................182 10.1 ANNEX 1: WORKSHOP PROGRAM........................................................................................................182 10.2 ANNEX 2: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS.................................................................................................185 10.3 ANNEX 3: REVISED APEC FISHERIES WORKING GROUP MANDATE...................................................189 10.4 ANNEX 4: TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR WORKING GROUPS..................................................................190 10.5 ANNEX 5: LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS..........................................................................196 Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 4 1 Executive Summary This document provides the report of the joint APEC/FAO/NACA/SEMARNAP expert workshop on “Trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogen transfer and the development of harmonized standards on aquaculture health management (FWG 03/2000),” held at Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico on the 24-28 July 2000. The workshop, attended by 49 government representatives and experts from 17 APEC economies, FAO and NACA member countries, intended to: (a) review existing knowledge on impacts of trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogen movement and establishment; (b) review management strategies to control impacts of aquatic animal diseases, with an emphasis on measures taken at the state-level and among the private sector; (c) identify and evaluate current and potential future management interventions at the national, regional and international levels, with special reference to ongoing Asia-Pacific and international programs and potential cooperative mechanisms; (d) review the existing knowledge on the standardization, validation and harmonization of diagnostic techniques for fish and shellfish diseases; and (e) develop a program of follow-up actions for standardization of aquaculture health management measures. The impetus to the workshop was the growing concern over the impacts of trans-boundary spread of aquatic animal pathogens, including their impacts on aquaculture industries in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific Region. During the five-day workshop, the participants shared knowledge on the impacts of, and management strategies for, aquatic animal diseases. Although, the emphasis of the discussions was on shrimp viral diseases and control of their negative impacts on shrimp aquaculture, the participants recognized the management measures discussed have broader application throughout Asia and the Americas in aquatic animal disease control. At the end of the workshop, the participants adopted a comprehensive “Puerto Vallarta Plan of Action” incorporating a wide range of recommendations for short, medium and long- term action to control the spread of serious aquatic animal pathogens. The Plan of Action strongly emphasizes the importance of effective cooperation between states, between states and private sectors, and within and between regions to harmonize aquatic animal health management measures and promote responsible trans-boundary movement of aquatic animals, ultimately contributing to improvements in the trade of aquatic animals and products and social and economic development through aquaculture. The recommendations emphasize an important role for APEC in capacity building and support to harmonization of aquatic animal health standards between member economies in the Asia-Pacific Region; the need for FAO, along with OIE, to promote broader international cooperation in aquatic animal health management; and a role for NACA in supporting further development of aquatic animal health capacity building within the Asia-Pacific Region. The Plan of Action recognizes that serious aquatic animal diseases are not constrained by national boundaries, and that a mechanism for regional cooperation in the Americas is urgently needed to prevent the rapid spread of diseases. Such regional cooperation should address issues of technical development and harmonized approaches to aquatic animal health, as well as strategies for establishing regional mechanisms for presenting a coordinated view to relevant international and regional bodies such as OIE and FAO. The goal of this cooperation is to facilitate international trade in aquatic animals and further the sustainable development of aquaculture. Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 5 2 Background to the project and workshop Aquatic animals are often intentionally moved (introduced and transferred) for various purposes, and the trans-boundary movement of species of living aquatic animals, primarily finfish, molluscs and crustaceans, is well recognized as facilitating the introduction of serious infectious diseases into new areas. With the growth of the aquaculture sector, the international movement of aquatic species has escalated over the last two decades, and there is strong evidence suggesting that such movements have been responsible for the recent outbreaks of exotic aquatic animal diseases that have caused substantial economic losses to the aquaculture sector in many parts of the world. Although the direct impacts of pathogen transfers, such as mortalities in aquaculture farms, are often apparent, their indirect impacts and the effects of exotic pathogens on aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, the socio-economic conditions of rural communities, and the potential implications for long-term international trade are hardly understood. In Asia, such concerns led to a regional cooperative program – being undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Network of Aquaculture Centres in the Asia- Pacific (NACA) and the Office International des Épizooties (OIE) - to explore ways to control the spread of serious pathogens. This cooperation led to 21 governments adopting an Asia regional 1 agreement on aquatic animal quarantine and health certification in Beijing, China, during June 2000 . Recently, concern has arisen in some countries on the eastern side of the Pacific, especially in Mexico and the United States, due to reports of the presence of the exotic white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp aquaculture in Central America, and the risk of dissemination of this, and other aquatic animal pathogens, throughout the Americas. It was thus considered appropriate and timely to review the current status of knowledge, with the view to better understand the potential negative impacts of such trans- boundary pathogen transfers, and to make considerations for future actions. It was also recognized that the discussions within Americas could be greatly facilitated through cooperation with the ongoing Asia regional activities of NACA, and through linkages with the global programs of FAO. In this regard, the Project “Joint APEC/FAO/NACA Ad Hoc Expert Consultation on Trans-boundary Aquatic Animal Pathogen Transfer and the Development of Harmonized Standards on Aquaculture Health Management (FWG 03/2000)”, was proposed by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Fisheries Working Group in May 1999 and subsequently approved by the APEC Secretariat. Since 1996, NACA, FAO and a number of organizations (e.g. OIE; Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR); Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia (AFFA); Department for International Development of the United Kingdom (DFID); Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute of Thailand (AAHRI) and others) have been cooperating in the development and implementation of an Asia regional strategy for the responsible trans-boundary movement of live aquatic animals. The regional strategy is now embodied in a major program on aquatic animal health management and implemented in early 1998 with the participation of 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific and the cooperation of various regional organizations, including APEC. Under this program, several in- economy/country level training activities, workshops and regional thematic reviews were organized and implemented on different subject areas of aquatic animal health management, including, among others, standardization of diagnostic techniques for aquatic animal diseases and pathogens, health and socio- economic impact assessments, and management strategies for major shrimp diseases. Under this regional program and as part of an on-going project on shrimp aquaculture management being implemented by NACA with support from various organizations such as FAO, the World Bank (WB) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a thematic review workshop on “Management Strategies 1 FAO/NACA. The Asia Regional Technical Guidelines on Health Management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals and The Beijing Consensus and Implementation Strategy. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 402. Rome, FAO. 2000. 53p. Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 6 for Major Diseases in Shrimp Aquaculture” was convened in Cebu City, Philippines on 28-30 November, 1999, subsequently referred to in this document as the ‘Cebu Workshop’. The workshop drew together shrimp disease experts in Asia and some countries in Central and South America who presented national reviews concerning the main shrimp viral diseases, their impacts and management strategies, and specialist synthesis reviews on trans-boundary movement of live aquatic animals. The Cebu Workshop successfully compiled the most comprehensive information and up-to-date analysis of shrimp health management strategies available to-date, providing an important document for discussion during the Puerto Vallarta workshop. The main recommendations from the Cebu Workshop are in Annex 10 of this report. Building on the knowledge gained during the Cebu Workshop, an expert workshop on Trans-Boundary Aquatic Animal Pathogen Transfer and the Development of Harmonized Standards on Aquaculture Health Management (FWG 03/2000) was held jointly by APEC, FAO, and NACA and hosted by the Government of Mexico (SEMARNAP) at Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, on 24-28 July 2000. This report presents the activities and findings of this meeting, together with recommendations for follow-up actions – to national, regional and international organizations and bodies - to confront the economically serious problems being caused by the trans-boundary spread of aquatic animal pathogens. Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 7 3 Summary Workshop Report 3.1 Workshop background The joint APEC/FAO/NACA/SEMARNAP expert workshop on “Trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogen transfer and the development of harmonized standards on aquaculture health management (FWG 03/2000)” was held at Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico on the 24-28 July 2000. 49 government representatives and experts attended the workshop from 17 APEC economies and FAO member countries. The workshop program is given in Annex 1 and the list of participants provided as Annex 2. 3.2 Objectives The objectives of the expert workshop were: 1. To review existing knowledge on impacts of trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogen movement and their establishment. Different pathways of pathogen transfer and the impact on aquaculture, rural livelihoods, trade, aquatic biodiversity, and other potential sectors were evaluated. 2. To review management strategies to control impacts of aquatic animal diseases, with an emphasis on measures taken at government level and among the private sector, including farmers, hatcheries, feed manufacturers and others, Special reference was given to the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and Taura syndrome virus (TSV) problems, as such diseases have contributed to significant economic losses within aquaculture industries in Asia and the Americas. 3. To identify and evaluate current and potential future management interventions at national, regional and international levels, with special reference to ongoing Asia-Pacific and international programs and potential cooperative mechanisms. 4. To review the existing knowledge on the standardization, validation and harmonization of diagnostic techniques for fish and shellfish diseases (with special reference to shrimp viral diseases), and making compatible, national and international standards and regulations. 5. To develop a program of action in order to make compatible the different standards for aquaculture health management, in particular those for shrimp. 3.3 Methodology The workshop was carried out over five days with the participation of representatives and experts from member economies and countries of APEC, FAO and NACA, in particular from Central and South America. The following APEC economies and FAO/NACA countries participated in the workshop: Australia, Canada, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela. The broad participation of economies/countries from Central and South America was essential because of the widespread impact of shrimp diseases among the countries of this region. The following provides a summary of the major workshop sessions and findings of the workshop. Further details are provided in subsequent sections and Annexes. Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 8 3.4 Session I: Opening ceremony Master of Ceremonies: Mr Gabriel Martinez Lic Francisco Mayorga, Secretario de Desarrollo Agropecuario del Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco. Lic. Mayorga welcomed all the delegates and thanked the organizers for choosing Mexico for the workshop. He wished the meeting success and an enjoyable time for the participants in Puerto Vallarta. Mr Stetson Tinkham, Lead Shepherd, APEC Fisheries Working Group The Lead Shepherd of the APEC FWG remarked that this is an important meeting because it brings together the very spirit that leaders envisioned at APEC. He emphasized that this spirit has been broadened to the global level at the FAO and another level at the region, through NACA, which includes non-APEC members. He congratulated Mexico for taking the leadership in this project, and he hoped that the meeting would assist in finding solutions to some of the problems being faced with respect to aquatic animal diseases. The APEC FWG mandate is provided as Annex 3. Dr Rohana Subasinghe, FAO Dr Subasinghe informed the participants that the problem the meeting will address is an important one, and that this workshop is a pioneering venture bringing together experts from within and outside the Americas. He noted that FAO, with NACA, is pleased to be part of this activity, and he stressed that this is the beginning of a process and that FAO will continue to support activities pertaining to controlling trans-boundary aquatic animal diseases. Mr Hassanai Kongkeo, NACA Coordinator The NACA Coordinator welcomed the delegates on behalf of NACA. He informed the meeting of the recently developed Asia Regional Technical Guidelines on Health Management for Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals, which he hoped, would be of interest to the participants from the Americas. He thanked the organizers and expressed the desire and commitment of the NACA organization to foster cooperation across the Pacific with APEC member economies and other countries in the Americas. Dr Porfirio Alvarez Torres, Director General de Investigacion en Acuacultura, SEMARNAP Dr Torres welcomed all delegates and indicated that Mexico is very pleased that this meeting is being held here, because it will give Mexico the opportunity to immediately lay the groundwork for improved aquaculture productivity and resource conservation. He reiterated that this workshop is the first of a series of activities that will hopefully be undertaken to address the issues pertaining to trans-boundary diseases, biodiversity concerns and others. He emphasized that the meeting was in line with the recommendations of the recently concluded Conference on Aquaculture in the New Millennium, and that SEMARNAP is very interested to participate in supporting implementation of these recommendations. He also expressed the hope that the meeting would lead to further cooperation between Asia and the Americas. Biol. Carlos Ramirez Martinez, Director General de Acuacultura, SEMARNAP Dr Martinez expressed his gratitude to NACA. FAO and APEC and welcomed the international and Mexican delegates to Puerto Vallarta. He emphasized that the meeting is an opportunity for raising awareness and should provide a basis for developing measures for detection and control of aquatic animal diseases. He described some of the activities in Mexico in disease control involving cooperation between industry, scientists and the government. He reiterated the desire of the Mexican government that this meeting should be remembered not only technically, but also for the spirit of regional cooperation. Lic Carlos Camacho Gaos, Subsecretario de Pesca, SEMARNAP Dr Gaos welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Mexican government. He indicated that instead of talking about the importance of this meeting, he wished to talk about the importance of one of the objectives, which is to bring the recommendations of this meeting not only to APEC and NACA, but also to the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI). The objective is one of harmonization, standardization, Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 9 and moving forward to a common objective – and that if this can be achieved, this is a further step forward in the responsible development of aquaculture. He was pleased to see the participation of other Latin American countries, and thanked APEC, FAO and NACA for their support. He was also very pleased to see industry participation, where in the past, there were only government representatives and researchers. 3.5 Session II - Overview and objectives Chairperson: Dr Rohana Subasinghe. Rapporteur: Dr Christina Chavez Sanchez This session provided an overview of the objectives and expected outputs from the workshop, background on relevant ongoing regional and international programs, and other information pertinent to the workshop deliberations. The following presentations were made. Section 6 of the report provides further information. • Objectives and expected outcomes from the Expert Consultation - FWG 03/2000 Project Overseer – Dr Ana Montero. The paper introduced the overall objectives of the workshop, and the expected outcomes. • An overview of FAO/NACA activities and regional, inter-regional, and international cooperation in trans-boundary aquatic animal disease control – Dr Rohana Subasinghe (FAO) and Dr Melba Reantaso (NACA). The presentation discussed the recent and ongoing regional activities and cooperation in aquatic animal health management in Asia, and the activities planned to support regional cooperation within the Americas. • Review of existing knowledge on the social, economic and biological impacts of trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogen movement and their establishment - Dr J. Richard Arthur (Project consultant, Canada). The presentation highlighted the current knowledge on impacts of trans- boundary aquatic animal pathogens and their establishment. The emphasis was on current knowledge in Asia, and broadly covered shrimp, fish and molluscs. The report prepared by Dr Arthur and colleagues, which was the basis of this presentation, is provided in full in Section 9. • Trans-boundary aquatic animal movement: compliance to international treaties and conventions: Organization International des Epizooties. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) – Dr Barry Hill (OIE Fish Disease Commission and CEFAS, UK). The presentation covered the work of OIE and its Fish Disease Commission, the Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS) agreement and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other issues concerning international standards for aquatic animal health in relation to trade. The importance of standardized diagnostic techniques and health certification for responsible movement of live aquatic animals was emphasized. • Trans-boundary aquatic animal movement: Responsible use of introduced species: FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Dr Devin Bartley (FAO). The presentation looked at introduced species and their benefits to world fisheries production. The potential negative impacts were also noted, and the importance of development and implementation of appropriate protocols was discussed. The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the Convention on Biological Diversity and their relevance to responsible movement of live aquatic animals were presented. • Cebu Workshop on Shrimp Health Management Strategies: the main conclusions and recommendations – Dr Michael Phillips (NACA) and Dr Rohana Subasinghe (FAO). The presentation provided a brief overview of the Cebu Workshop, held in November 1999, and the major conclusions and recommendations. It was explained that the Cebu Workshop findings provide a basis for further discussion and development during the present expert workshop in Puerto Vallarta. The main findings and conclusions of the Cebu Workshop are noted in Section 9. Report of the Puerto Vallarta Expert Consultation - 10